The Fogcutters Big Band hit their pledgemusic goal last week, ensuring all the bells and whistles for a forthcoming album of modern big-band originals due in the spring. The 19-piece also secured another soiree at the State Theatre, their third annual “Big Band Syndrome” show, wherein they collaborate with scores of local musicians in rock, soul, and R&B styles. Everything we’ve seen or heard suggests it’s a killer party. Have to think the Foggers deserve this next step. Sure, it’s a little worrisome that the trend of insisting on premium engineers and production elements while asking the community to foot the bill is becoming standard crowdfunding practice, but there’s something we find truly populist and inclusive about these folks. They know their history, and they way they bridge the city’s various music factions is something to behold. Find more info about the now-funded project at pledgemusic.com/projects/thefogcutters and consider their show — which features appearances by Kenya Hall, Jaw Gems, and Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, et al. — December 6.

There’s a new one from Saint Solitude, the fuzz-pop project of Midcoast native Dup Crosson, out this week. Titled A Crack in the Snow Mortar, it merges riff-driven ’90s emotional indie-rock (think Far and Appleseed Cast) with some electronic songwriting and production gloss (it’s mixed by none other than Jose Ayerve, a/k/a A Severe Joy). Fuller and cleaner than his previous releases, and a few degrees less mournful, hear his latest at saintsolitude.bandcamp.com.

You won’t read this in time to act, but we still find it amusing that the Bangor rock duo When Particles Collide are offering up their 2001 Dodge Caravan to anyone (restrictions apply!) who sends a photo of themselves holding a copy of the new Particles album Ego. Whatever mixed blessing that may turn out to be, the buzz seems to be working; WPC just played WCSH’s 207 program last week, while Ego hit #1 on the Bull Moose charts. Inquire within at whenparticlescollide.com.